Single-Gripper Loom Weft Feeder for Flexible Fabric Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Double-gripper looms face difficulties in exchanging weft threads, leading to structural defects and low production flexibility, while single-gripper looms offer lower weaving speeds and limited fabric width.
Innovation Solution
A single-gripper loom design where a weft feeder optimally positions weft threads for the receiving gripper before cutting, eliminating the need for gripping elements on the feeder, reducing thread waste, and allowing for easier thread exchange outside the weaving shed, with adjustable thread angles for enhanced flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a double-gripper loom is used to achieve high weaving speeds and fabric width, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of weft thread exchange increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the weft thread feeding function from the receiving gripper and assigns it to a dedicated weft feeder device. This separation allows the receiving gripper to focus solely on gripping and inserting weft threads, while the weft feeder handles thread supply and positioning, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing exchange difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
The weft feeder acts as an intermediary device between the weft source and the receiving gripper. It positions weft threads optimally before transfer, facilitating smooth exchange without direct manipulation by the gripper, thus reducing structural defects and improving reliability.
2Productivity
If a double-gripper loom is used to achieve high weaving speeds, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision and fabric quality deteriorate due to structural defects
Solution Approach 1:
The weft feeder serves as an intermediary that ensures precise positioning of weft threads before they are transferred to the receiving gripper. This intermediate positioning step prevents misalignment and structural defects in the fabric, maintaining high manufacturing precision even at high weaving speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The weft feeder performs preliminary positioning of the weft thread before the actual gripping and insertion process. This advance preparation ensures that threads are correctly aligned and positioned, preventing defects during the high-speed weaving operation.
3Device complexity
If a single-gripper loom is used to simplify the structure, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and fabric width are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the weft insertion process into distinct functions: weft supply and positioning by the weft feeder, and gripping and insertion by the receiving gripper. This functional segmentation allows a single gripper to operate more efficiently, compensating for the reduced complexity with optimized process division.
Solution Approach 2:
The weft feeder is designed to automatically position and present weft threads to the receiving gripper without requiring complex exchange mechanisms. This self-service capability enables the single gripper to maintain high productivity through streamlined operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent item changes are made to improve adaptability, then versatility is improved, but loss of time increases due to calibration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The weft feeder is designed as a universal device capable of handling different types of weft threads and positioning them appropriately for various fabric types. This multi-functionality allows frequent item changes without requiring extensive recalibration, reducing time loss while maintaining high versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A single-gripper loom (1) comprising: a receiving gripper (5) that is movable along a first sliding guide (6) through a weaving shed (10) from and to a gripping position (P2) outside the weaving shed (10) or close to a first opening thereof (10b) wherein said receiving gripper (5) receives one or more weft threads (2, 3), a weft selector (8), a weft feeder (12) to transfer the weft threads (2, 3) from the selector (8) to the receiving gripper (5), movable along a second sliding guide (7), between an intercepting position (P1) of the weft threads (2, 3), outside the weaving shed, and the gripping position (P2) wherein the receiving gripper (5) receives the weft threads (2, 3) from the weft feeder (12).